Introduction to Lab-on-chip Devices

The course will outline the basic concepts of devices that integrate one or several laboratory functions on a single chip, their fabrication and how they offer advantages specific to their applications. The program will cover fundamentals of electrochemical (voltametric, amperometric, impedimetric), optical (absorbance, fluorescence, and FRET based) and mass-spectrometry based sensing methods along with basics of nanofabrication for engineering low-cost devices with miniaturization. Low fluid volumes and fundamental of microfluidics that can lead to smaller (biological) samples for diagnostic purposes; influence of the scaling-down of dimensions on the physico-chemical behaviour of fluids and chemical reactions; faster analysis and response times that provide better process control and ability through parallel processing to provide high-throughput screening. Few applications of lab-on-chip devices will be discussed in the process.

The course will outline the basic concepts of devices that integrate one or several laboratory functions on a single chip, their fabrication and how they offer advantages specific to their applications.

The program will cover fundamentals of electrochemical (voltametric, amperometric, impedimetric), optical (absorbance, fluorescence, and FRET based) and mass-spectrometry based sensing methods along with basics of nanofabrication for engineering low-cost devices with miniaturization. Low fluid volumes and fundamental of microfluidics that can lead to smaller (biological) samples for diagnostic purposes; influence of the scaling-down of dimensions on the physico-chemical behaviour of fluids and chemical reactions; faster analysis and response times that provide better process control and ability through parallel processing to provide high-throughput screening. Few applications of lab-on-chip devices will be discussed in the process.

 The course will have theory classes (3 credits), lab component (0.8 credits) and journal article analysis (0.2 credits). The lab component will have supervised lab sessions. For journal article reading, students will be provided a short list of scientific articles, and they need to respond individually queries on selected papers based on evaluation criteria given. Other requisites for the completion of the course are assignments, quiz, end semester exam (theory and lab) and viva on the lab component.

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• Understanding of different sensing techniques highly relevant for lab-on-chip design and their basic concepts
• Basics of nanofabrication and low-cost methods that can lead to economically viable and disposable chips
• An appreciation of the design and development of microfluidic devices that can perform different functions associated with bio-chemical analysis devices for biomedical and other diagnostic applications.

1. D A Skoog, E J Holler & S R Crouch, Principles of Instrumental Analysis, 7th Edition, Cengage Publishers
2. P W Atkins, Physical Chemistry, 8th edition, Freeman & Company Publishers
3. Andreas Manz et.al. Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-chip, Royal Soc. Chem Publishers

Journal references/articles will be provided during the classes as required.